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Human nutrition like part of prevention in osteoporosis and osteomalacia
BRABCOVÁ, Markéta
The purpose of this baccalaureate work is to study deseases related to osteoporosis and osteomalacia. It describes the composition of the bones, historical occurrence of osteoporosis, the characteristics of the osteoporosis and osteomalacia, as well as the differences between these osseous diseases. Furthermore, the present work focuses on the prevention of osteoporosis from the nutrition point of view. It analyses the influence of mineral substances, vitamins and hormons on the formation of bones. Osteoporosis is an old disease. Women suffering from osteoporosis can be seen already on some Chinese and Greek paintings. Premature osteoporosis has been noticed also in skeletal residues of young women steming from the 3rd - 5th centuries A.D. In such young women, the osteoporosis was due to consumption of bread containing a higher portion of phytate which bonds calcium. Within the whole group of osseous metabolic osteopathias, the osteomalacia is the least frequent one. It can be found also in developing countries like India and Pakistan, but also in Muslim minorities living in the United Kingdom. It originates in the shortage of vitamin D. The purpose of this work was to find out to which extent the human nutrition influences bone diseases. A bone is never a finished product, it is subject to a continuous process of creation and destruction. Osteoporosis is a result . In aging individuals, the destruction of bones predominates over the creation of new ones, the total osseous substance decreases as such and there is an excessive decrease in all bone components - minerals, especially in calcium. This is why calcium reserves in bones are so important. The level of sexual hormons as well can cause an accelerated decrease in osseous substance. We refer here to the so-called menopausal osteoporosis which occurs in women. In men, it occurs at a later age and has a milder course. Osteomalacia is originated by a malfunction of the mineralisation of bones. There is a sufficient quantity of osseous substance, however, what is missing are minerals. A good mineralisation of bones requires enough vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and trace elements boron and fluorine. Osteoporosis and osteomalacia are, in the last years, an increasingly serious problem in the developed countries, as a consequence of the increasing life expectancy. The treatment of osteoporosis and osteomalacia is very expensive, and this is why so much emphasis is placed in their prevention. Prevention measures should be commenced as soon as possible, because lack of calcium in the infant food and in the nutrition of young people causes health problems and is the inception stage of osteoporosis. The most important preventive measure is a sufficient supply of calcium and vitamin D. Other measures are physical training and exercises, staying in the sun, a sufficient supply of minerals - magnesium, phosphorus, fluorine and vitamins, especially vitamins C, K and B12 from the daily food. A negative effect on the bones is caused by excessive consumption of proteins and caffeine, which leads to calciuria. A nutrition rich in fruits and vegetables increases the alkalinity of the environment, which reduces the calciuria.
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